November 2, 2017 4:15pm EDTNovember 2, 2017 4:15pm EDTCaf’s African Player of the Year shortlist celebrates the best of the continent’s talent, but who missed the cut?Notable absentees from African Player of the Year shortlist

Goal

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Riyad Mahrez Leicester City

Riyad Mahrez: Admittedly, the North African maestro didn’t come close to recreating the feats of Leicester City’s 2015-16 title-winning campaign as the Foxes struggled last term. However, he nonetheless impressed during the East Midlanders’ run to the Champions League quarter-finals—on his first showing in the tournament—and delivered a series of fine displays as the reigning champions beat the drop under Craig Shakespeare. He also delivered an outstanding showing against Zimbabwe during Algeria’s miserable Africa Cup of Nations campaign. Is he not among the continent’s top 30 talents?

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Faouzi Ghoulam, Napoli, Feyenoord, UEFA Champions League, 26092017

Faouzi Ghoulam: Another Algerian who’s been unduly overlooked for the Caf shortlist is Ghoulam. He’s surely Africa’s finest left-back in the world today—and is a different league to Zambia’s nominee, Fackson Kapumbu. He was excellent last term as Maurizio Sarri’s swashbuckling Napoli side reached the Champions League, and already has five decisive contributions in 11 Serie A outings this term—as the Naples giants have enjoyed an almost perfect start to the domestic campaign.

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Kalidou Koulibaly, Napoli, Feyenoord, UEFA Champions League, 26092017

Kalidou Koulibaly: Sitting alongside Ghoulam in Napoli’s defence—the joint-second best in Serie A this season—is Koulibaly. He’s improved dramatically since moving to Italy from Belgium, and has established himself as one of Africa’s finest centre-backs—a reality demonstrated by the reported interest in him by some of the Premier League’s biggest clubs. Surely, as good as he’s been in recent months, nominee William Troost-Ekong can’t hold a candle to Senegal international Koulibaly!

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Franck Kessie Milan

Franck Kessie: Staying in Serie A, we’re stunned that Kessie has been overlooked for the Caf prize. Admittedly, he hasn’t enjoyed the best of starts to the season with AC Milan—although four decisive contributions in 11 outings is a decent return—but he was one of the division’s outstanding talents last term. Atalanta were the surprise package of the season as they finished fourth, with Kessie arguably their most impressive player. He managed six goals and three assists, while regularly setting the tone with his tenacity and endeavour.

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Wilfred Ndidi

Wilfred Ndidi’s excellent start to life at Leicester City has gone somewhat under the radar, but surely he deserves credit as one of the continent’s top 30 players in the world today. Despite being just 20 when he moved to England from Genk, the midfielder adapted seamlessly to the world’s grandest league, helped settle the ship for a struggling side and proved his mettle by regularly winning combative midfield battles. Finally, it appeared that City had found a worthy successor to N’Golo Kante, but even his excellent performances in the UCL weren’t enough for Ndidi to get Caf’s recognition.

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Hakim Ziyech Ajax Lyon

Hakim Ziyech is perhaps the most notable omission from Caf’s shortlist. He may not be the most high-profile continental talent—and he missed out on the Nations Cup—but his sustained excellence at Ajax since signing from FC Twente at the beginning of last term cannot be ignored. He inspired the Amsterdam giants to the Europa League final and ran Feyenoord close in the Dutch title race, making decisive contributions throughout. He scored or assisted 18 times in the Eredivisie last term, and was the genius behind Morocco’s 6-0 demolition of Mali in World Cup qualification.

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Benjamin Moukandjo of Cameroon

Benjamin Moukandjo: Fabrice Ondoa made the 30-man Caf shortlist based, we can assume considering his club ‘career’, on the back of his international form with Afcon champions Cameroon. However, wasn’t captain Moukandjo just as influential as Ondoa in the Indomitable Lions’ success in Gabon? He also impressed in Ligue 1 scoring 13 goals for a poor Lorient team, matching his tally for the 2015-16 campaign. That fine form has continued in China with Jiangsu Suning, but yet Moukandjo doesn’t seem to get the recognition he deserves.